Nine new swine flu cases in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH - Nine new positive cases of the influenza A (H1N1) virus were reported from hospitals in the city, health officials said Monday.

“We had collected the throat and nasal swab samples of these patients Sunday and their reports are positive. We have properly diagnosed them and our doctors are keeping a close tab on their condition,” G.C. Bansal, Chandigarh’s officiating nodal officer of swine flu, said.

He added: “These cases include four from Chandigarh, one from Punjab and two each from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Now we are waiting for the test reports of eight more patients that are expected by this evening.”

Due to the increasing number of positive swine flu cases, the technical committee of the Chandigarh health department has declared that a doctor can prescribe tamiflu based on a patient’s symptoms. Earlier, a patient would have to get tested before the medicine could be administered.

So far, 280 positive cases of the virus and 34 casualties have been reported in city hospitals.